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Bernard James Wilson
Died Feb. 11, 1998
Bernard James Wilson, 76, of Manistee died Wednesday, Feb. 11, at West Shore Hospital, Manistee. The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Close
Died Jan. 31, 1998
Robert C. (Bob) Close, 75, of Forest, Va., passed away Saturday, Jan. 31, at Lynchburg (Va.) General Hospital.
Mr. Close was born Nov. 10, 1922, in Ludington, the son of the late Orval and Alberta (Englund) Close. He went to school in Ludington, graduating from Ludington High School in 1941. He was a retired CPA and did volunteer work in the music department of Liberty Baptist Bible College. He played trumpet with the Ageless Wonders senior citizens’ musical group and was an active member of the Timberlake Baptist Church of Lynchburg.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, he is survived by five children, 12 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one sister, Marilyn Marrison of Ludington.
Services were held at Timberlake Baptist Church on Feb. 2.
Janet Rae Anes
Died Feb. 16, 1999
Janet Rae Anes, age 69, of Comstock Park and formerly of Grant, died Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Spectrum Health-Downtown Campus, Grand Rapids.
She was born Janet Rae Sapp in Newport, Ky., the daughter of Hazel Lee Sapp and Arthur Andrew Perkins on Dec. 28, 1938. She married Ralph Douglas Anes, formerly of Ludington, on March 5, 1956, in Myland, Ind. She was a homemaker all her life.
Surviving are her husband, Ralph D. Anes, of Comstock Park; four daughters, Karen Chatman of Grand Rapids, Terri (and Robert) Melle of Newaygo, Shelley (and Dave) Gard of Grant, Cindy (and Tim) Randolph of Grant; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; her stepfather, Lyle Olson of Ludington; three sisters, Joanne (and George) Phillips of Kentucky, Shirley (and Jim) Herbert of Indiana, and Hope (and Bob) Shaffer of Comstock Park; two brothers, Arthur (and Debbie) Perkins of Bailey, and Anthony (and Brenda) Tabor of Lowell; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Services for Mrs. Anes will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, from the McKinley Funeral Home, Grant Chapel, Grant, with Pastor Wesley Smith officiating. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery.
Visitation at the funeral home will be from 2 to 4 this afternoon and 7 to 9 this evening.
Bill Manley
Bill Manley, age 69, of 731 S. Amber Road, Scottville, passed away Thursday, Feb. 25 in Bushnell, Fla., where he and his wife spent their winters.
Bill Manley was born May 1, 1929, in Ludington, the son of Harrison and Opal (VanVleet) Manley. He grew up in Ludington and attended Ludington schools. He was married Jan. 14, 1950, to Dorothy Williams and she survives. He worked as a supervisor for Martin Marietta in Manistee. He was a member of the West Michigan Old Engine Club.
He enjoyed auto racing, working on his tractors and building things for his grandchildren, especially Kyle, Scotty and Alec. He was also always willing to help anyone who needed it, children, the Old Engine Club or his friends.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, Dorothy, are his mother, Opal Manley of Ludington; two sons, Roger (and Karen) Manley of Ludington, and Stephen (and Kim) Manley of Beaverton; two daughters, Terri (and William) Stakenas of Scottville, and LuAnn (and Scott) Merz of Scottville; one brother, Clarence (and Karen) Manley of Scottville; two sisters, Isabelle (and Otto) Scheppleman of Flint, and Teresa Cameron of Florida; nine grandchildren, Hailee, Kyle, Alec and Lyndsay Stakenas of Scottville, Scotty Merz of Scottville, Danielle and Nick Manley of Ludington, David (and Debbie) Manley of Newport News, Va.; and Bill Manley of Buffalo, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harrison Manley.
Memorial services for Mr. Manley will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 15, at the Stephens Funeral Home chapel, Scottville, with the Rev. Norman Letsinger officiating. The family will be at the funeral home to receive friends from 11:30 a.m. Monday until the time of the service
Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider donations to the West Michigan Old Engine Club with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Geraldine G. Whitney
Died Aug. 26, 1999
Geraldine G. Whitney, age 84, of 2736 N. Pine St., Tamarac, Ludington, formerly of Stanton, died Thursday, Aug. 26 at her residence following a brief illness.
Geraldine G. Reed was born Jan. 31, 1915, in Portland, the daughter of Fred and Nellie (Hanson) Reed. She was married Nov. 3, 1933, in Portland to Paul J. Whitney Sr., and he preceded her in death on Dec. 14, 1988.
She worked as a nurse for many years, first in Charlotte and then in Sheridan, retiring in the late 1980s. She was a member of Nevins Lake Church of Stanton. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, crocheting and gardening. She loved her dog, “Peppy.”
Survivors include two daughters, Muirlyene (and Gil) Hayward of Hudson, Fla., Carol (and Joe) Cain of Ludington; one son, Paul Johnathon (and Phyllis) Whitney Jr. of Mears; one sister, Loretta Jacott of Palm Harbor, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death, in addition to her husband, by her parents, and twin brothers, Fred and Frank Reed.
Services for Mrs. Whitney will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at Nevin Lake Church in Stanton with the Rev. Bob Goodenough officiating. The family will receive friends at the Dorrell Funeral Home in Ludington from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. They will also receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Stanton, alongside her husband.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Michigan for Mason County with envelopes available at the Dorrell Funeral Home.
Clair J. Surrarrer
Died Aug. 25, 1999
Clair J. Surrarrer, age 71, of Fountain, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Memorial Medical Center, Ludington.
Clair Surrarrer was born Feb. 24, 1928, in Freeport, the son of Warren and Cleo (Hinckley) Surrarrer. He grew up and attended school in Freeport, moving to Free Soil where he attended Scottville schools. He was married June 3, 1950, in Free Soil to Patricia E. Lucker and she survives. He worked for Packaging Corporation of America for 36 years, retiring May 1, 1989. He served with the United States Air Force, was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Club of Mason County, and helped on the Young Eagles Day preflight that helped kids who were going up to fly. He was a good “jack of all trades, ” always helping family and others. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and he was a good neighbor.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, Patricia, are one daughter, Janie (and Daryl) Troost of Fountain; one son, David (and Jackie) Surrarrer of Fountain; two brothers, Mike Surrarrer of Arizona, and Merle (and Maud) Surrarrer of Ohio; six grandchildren, Kari Troost, Shanon (and Shane) McDowell, Chad Troost, Mike Surrarrer, Dustin Surrarrer and Amy Surrarrer; several nieces and nephews; and special cousins Lucille and Don Briggs and their daughter, Judy Colyer.
He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by an infant son, Michael Jay Surrarrer.
Services for Mr. Surrarrer will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Stephens Funeral Home chapel, Scottville, with the Rev. John Christensen officiating. Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Free Soil. The family will be at the funeral home to receive friends from 1 p.m. Saturday until the time of the service.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider donations to a charity of the donor’s choice with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Ralph Novak
Died Aug. 18, 1999
Ralph Norman “The Admiral” Novak, age 69, of Murphy, N.C., and Hudson, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Aug. 18 at a Murphy, N.C., hospital following a heart attack.
A native of Milwaukee County, Wis., he served in the United States Army during World War II and was a member of the VFW Post No. 4353 in Pine Island, Fla. A tool and die maker by trade, he owned and operated a general building construction company. He enjoyed and indulged his passion for selling and bartering oddities and “junque.” An avid sailor, he enjoyed restoring old boats and creating unique maritime/folk items. A place he loved to spend time was the cabin he built with his own hands for his wife and himself.
Surviving are his father, Ferdinand Novak Sr. (99) of Hudson, Fla., his wife, Marilyn R. Novak also of Murphy, N.C., and Hudson, Fla.; five children, David Novak and Christine Novak, both of New Bern, N.C., Rozella Caraballo and Mrs. Randy (June) Rozell, both of Ludington, and Fredrick (Rick) A. Novak, of Hudson, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. James (Marlene) Kelley of Escondido, Calif.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Meyer Novak, and a brother, Ferdinand Novak Jr.
Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association.
